Growing Hope Globally

Founded in 1999 as Foods Resource Bank, Growing Hope Globally started when Ohio Farmers Vernon and Carol Sloan invited their neighbors to become part of the solution to world hunger by shipping corn from their fields to developing countries. They quickly learned shipping was too costly – nearly 15 times the cost of the grain itself – and would wreak havoc on local farmers and markets. Needing a new idea, they sat down with a handful of Christian organizations that fund and run international food security programs. Their unique solution: Use the proceeds from crops raised and sold in the U.S. to fund agricultural development programs overseas. That seed of an idea has blossomed into a network of community Growing Projects in more than 20 states.  Together, we have served over 2 million people and helped them to grow lasting solutions to hunger.

To learn more about GHG and our current projects, go to growinghopeglobally.org.

THE PORTAGE UCC–CLIMAX–BATTLE CREEK GROWING PROJECT

In 2002, Portage UCC initiated our involvement with GHG with the help of church member Norm Braksick, who was then GHG’s Executive Director. Portage UCC is the city church; our rural partners are Mennonite, three United Methodist churches and a community church. Since 2003, we have helped sponsor over 30 specific GHG programs in 16 countries.

Each fall, we sponsor a pledge drive within our congregation to raise funds for the next year’s growing project.  This money, raised through individual pledges, helps cover costs our farm partners incur that are not donated. Our rural partners pledge their time, talent, and resources and use of their land to grow crops which are sold to help fund food security programs. They have raised and sold enough crops over the years to fund more than $2 million for GHG overseas programs, helping over 40,000 people to achieve food security.  Our local growing project is currently funding projects in five countries.

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